Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-02-23
Police Judge Biii.

To the Editor of the Republic:
| This bill should be adopted by the peopl,
of Springfield for the following reasons:
1. 1: is a strictly non-partisan measure
for the benefit of the people. and was unan
imously passed in council, and is nobody.
pet or particular measure.
>. 1t does away with the enormous fee
of the mayor and marshal. which for sC
many years have filled those offices witt
men anxious only for the fees. aud caring
little about justice 10 the poor and unfortu.
| mates arrested.
3. Ii does away with the present system
of forced arrests, under which a mayor /.
down" on all his policemen who don't
make lots of arrests.
4. Ii aboiishes the useless Office of mar
shal, who does nothing but l0ok after his
fees. the policemen doing all the work that
is done.
5. 1t creates police court, with Judge.
clerk and prosecutor, to hold a regular
court, 10 dispense justice and not to assess
dollar and costs" for the money there
is in it, As issued in the mayors court.
These officers will all be on salaries. and
all the fees collected 90 into the city treas
ury; hence. all these officers will have every
incentive 10 dispense exact Justice, and
reasonable punishment to all offenders.
6. Ii makes only one more Office than we
have now. At present, We have three off
GERS. viz: mayor, cleik and marshal: under
the new law, We would have four officers.
viz: mayor. police Judge. clerk and pros
ecutor; and this will not increase taxation
any, because
/ M "a nDt a.ns all f..., -, 81
city treasury. and the offices will be entirely
self-sustaining. and very likely pay a profit
to the city, As can be seen from the follow
ing figures.
At present, the mayor and marshal to-
sether, collect from $4,000 TO SIl. 900 an
nually in fees, licenses. salaries. etc. Tn
der the new law, it is proposed to make the
salaries as follows:
Police Judge, per year. ..--.-.-...... 500
Clerk. per year. ............- ... SO
Prosecutor. per 60
\ toiaI $3.50
Now. if only half as many arrests are
made hereafter as are made now. then the
fees would amount TO at least s., O0O-or
81. 100 more than all four salaries-and il
is reasonable 10 suppose that fully halt as
oai,~''' " iAA Dt a. htN. a.
the city grows, the number arrested will
naturally grow.
SO that, figuring upon the very lowest
estimate. the plan is more than self -sus-
tanning, and will not only not increase the
taxes particle. but will make the city an
actual profit on the enterprise.
Now what possible objections of any con-
sequence at all can be urged against this
measure, which benefits the whole people.
which secures exact justice to all offenders.
and which is Self-sustaiuing
If you will sift down all objections raised,
in nine cases out of ten you will find they
originated from those who wish to be candi-
dates for mayor or marshal. or from some
of their friends.
The attempt to raise objection BY calling
IT the pet project of any man. set of men.
or party, is no valid objection. even if il
were true, and it is not true.
1t will result in starting needed reforms
In the police administration of the city. and
is large step in the right direction.
Ii the people will Just read the act as it
IS, and learn its provisions as they are. and
not be misled. or confused. or misunder-
stand it, from false information put forth
by those personally interested in its defeat |
We have no doubt the people will generally |
vote for il. and thus secure very much |
needed reform.